SCOTLAND winger Rory Lamont is back in action for Sale as they prepare to take on northern rivals Leeds Carnegie at Edgeley Park tonight.

Sharks' leading try scorer this season has recovered from a string of injuries to take his place on the wing for the Guinness Premiership clash.

Lamont battled back to fitness after damaging his ribs while at Sale to be ready for the Six Nations, only to injure his ankle and shoulder in Scotland's opening game against France.

Sharks are fresh after last weekend's game against London Wasps was postponed and they have enjoyed a week's physical training.

Richard Wigglesworth, having made his England debut against Italy last weekend as a second half replacement, is back for Sale alongside stand-off Charlie Hodgson.

Luke McAlister and Lee Thomas double up in the centres with Oriol Ripol on the wing and Mark Cueto at full back.

Andrew Sheridan is still out of action after minor surgery on his ankle but Lionel Faure is back from duty with France and partners Stuart Turner alongside Sebastien Bruno in the front row.

Paces

Sean Cox moves to the back row with Sebastien Chabal and Magnus Lund, who will find himself up against big brother Erik in the Leeds second row.

Director of rugby Philippe Saint Andre said: "We travelled back from Wasps on Sunday evening and we put all the players through their paces on Monday.

"This game against Leeds Carnegie should be very competitive as we both need to win for different reasons.

"We need the points to keep up our top four challenge and Leeds need the points in their efforts to pull away from the foot of the table. The game at Headingley earlier in the season saw us under the hammer in the early part but we weathered the storm to return home 34-20 winners."

Meanwhile, former coach Jim Mallinder has plundered the Sale ranks again and will take centre Chris Mayor to Northampton next season.

Mayor will rejoin fitness coach Nick Johnston who announced his departure earlier this year. Mayor, a former England U21 and Sevens international, will join Saints at the start of next season, when it is expected they will be back in the Premiership.

Northampton director of rugby Mallinder said: "Chris is a talented player who will bring plenty of good attributes to the Saints squad.


"He is a strong, elusive centre who reads the game well. Chris also knows what it takes to succeed in the Premiership having won there with Sale."

SHARKS: Cueto, Lamont, McAlister, Thomas, Ripol, Hodgson, Wigglesworth, Faure, Bruno, Turner, Cockbain, Schofield (c), Cox, Lund, Chabal. Reps: Briggs, Halsall, Bonner Evans, JM Fernandez Lobbe, Cliff, Laharrague, Bell.